Primark colleagues in Wales are in a jubilant mood this week as they gather in stores to celebrate reaching an incredible £1million in funds raised for the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity. The fashion retailer has been a partner of the charity in Wales since 2012. The huge sum of money was raised through bag levies across Primark’s eight stores in Wales including Cardiff, Cwmbran, Swansea, Llanelli, and Newport.
There to celebrate with the Primark team at the Cardiff store today (Tuesday 21 May) were representatives of the charity, which provides life-saving equipment, family services and emotional support at Wales’ only children’s hospital. Amongthem was 15-year-old Mia Harris Jones from Cardiff, who has been a patient at the children’s hospital since being diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia last summer. Despite her ongoing chemotherapy treatment, Mia loves helping other children like her, raising funds and acting as a big sister to the younger children on the oncology unit. Mia was recently named as a young ambassador for the charity in recognition of her kindness to others.
There to celebrate too were siblings Adam and Alesha, who both have a kidney disorder called congenital nephrotic syndrome. Adam and Alesha visit the children’s hospital at least three times a week for four-hour sessions of haemodialysis and at some point, before they become much older, both need kidney transplants. Adam really stole the show at today’s event with his infectious laugh and personality.
Suzanne Mainwaring, director of the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “The funds raised by the wonderful Primark team in Wales have been used to create brighter todays and better tomorrows for children in a whole number of ways over the last 12 years. The partnership helped to build the children’s hospital’s very own hydrotherapy pool and has contributed delivery of the much-loved play specialist service. Primark supported children and families through our Covid19 Resilience Fund during the pandemic and, most recently, in 2023, the partnership played a huge factor in helping to reach our Tiny Lives Appeal target. The money raised from that appeal went on to fund, incubators, ventilators and transport incubators that care for the tiniest and most vulnerable of babies on the neonatal intensive care unit.
“Primark has been a much-valued partner of the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity since 2012. Thank you for all you have achieved for the children of Wales, Primark. It’s an honour to call you our charity partners.”
Primark area manager for South Wales, Adam French, said: “We’re so proud to partner with Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity here in Wales.
“Over the last twelve years, the funds raised through the bag levy have made a real difference to so many children’s lives, and meeting some of the recipients of this care has been a heartwarming experience for us.
“It is an immense achievement to have reached over £1 million and we are excited to see how our partnership continues to thrive in the future. A big congratulations to our Welsh store teams!”
